Do not overwater. Lawns generally need only about 1" of water per week (about 3,500 gallons for 1/8 acre of grass) to stay healthy. A 5/8" garden hose or in ground sprinkler system puts about 1,000 gallons per hour on your lawn. Rain reduces the need to sprinkle your lawn.
Set your lawnmower to 3" to maximize root growth. Lawns that are at least 3" tall need less water than closely clipped lawns.
Water efficiently. The most efficient way to water is a slow drip. Install drip systems for shrubs, flowerbeds, gardens and wherever practical. When using a sprinkler, water during the cool of the day, preferably when the wind is not blowing. Water for short periods more often to minimize runoff. Mulch around trees and shrubs to conserve water.
During dry periods, landscape watering can use up to three-quarters of total household water usage.
Many plant problems arise not from underwatering, but from overwatering.
An ineffi cient sprinkler can deliver as much as 300 gallons an hour onto a lawn. Th at’s no drop in the bucket!
Watering efficiently is one of the best and easiest ways to save water—and money. Besides conserving water, proper watering will also keep your landscape plants healthy and beautiful throughout the year. A water-wise landscape doesn’t mean giving up your lawn or making dramatic changes to your landscape or lifestyle. There are many simple ways to save water, and they all start with you. This booklet will show you how.
You can literally save thousands of gallons of water in your landscape, and save your plants from drowning, with the proper setting of your irrigation controller. But you can't just set it and forget it. You need to change the watering schedules as plants become established, with the changing seasons, and when it rains. Here's an easy guide to make setting your irrigation controller easier than programming your VCR. If you don't already know how much water your plants need, our Landscape & Watering Guidewill walk you through the steps.
Basic Controller Features
Stations control the valves that release the water to the irrigation Zones in your yard or garden. Put plants with similar water needs on the same station or zone. This allows for more efficient watering since all emitters and/or sprinklers on a single valve will run for the same amount of time. Multiple stations or zones allow you to customize watering amounts for different types of plants by allowing for different run times for different valves.
The Start Time is the time at which a specific valve will open to irrigate a station or zone.
The Run Time or Station Duration is the time, in minutes, a specific valve will stay open and therefore water a zone.
Semi-Auto lets you run through an entire program (A, B, or C) whenever you want a supplemental watering.
Off or Stop will stop programs from running until you toggle back to ‘Run’. Your programs will be saved. This is great during rainy periods.
The Manual button allows you to run a single valve for the amount of time you select. This is helpful when you want to tune-up your irrigation system and check for leaks, misaligned sprinkler heads, or clogged drip emitters.
A Program is where you store all of your settings. It consists of a set of stations set to specific start times and run times. Here, multiple programs A, B, & C allow you to run different valves on different days with different run times. Make sure each program runs stations with similar plant water needs to maximize irrigation efficiency.
#01 - There are a number of ways to save water, and they all start with you.
#02 - When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.
#03 - Some refrigerators, air conditioners and ice-makers are cooled with wasted flows of water. Consider upgrading with air-cooled appliances for significant water savings.
#04 - Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
#05 - Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
Use low-flow showerheads with cut-off valves. Low flow showerheads use 3 to 5 gallons less per minute than regular showerheads. A cut-off valves lets you turn off the water while soaping up and shampooing. This can save 1,000 to 2,000 gallons per month.
Install faucets with aerators or flow restrictors. These devices can cut water usage as much as 50%.
Select appliances with water saving features. Purchase dishwashers and washing machines with water saving features.
Find useful tips for Wise Water Use by visiting the US EPA's WaterSense website.
WaterSense helps consumers identify water-efficient products and programs that meet WaterSense water efficiency and performance criteria. Products carrying the WaterSense label perform well, help save money, and encourage innovation in manufacturing.[WaterSense]
Whose responsibility is it to fix leaks? That depends on where the leak is located. The Service Authority is responsible for leaks on the street side of the water meter and in the meter pit. Leaks from the connection to the water meter to the home, as well as leaks inside the home are the responsibility of the customer. It is very important to repair leaks as quickly as possible. Ignoring leaks can waste a great deal of water, cause significant property damage and can be costly to the consumer. Quickly addressing leaks will save water and money.
Check for leaking toilets Leaking toilets are the number one source of wasted water in the home. A leaky toilet tank wastes between 300 gallons (slow leak) and 60,000 gallons (running toilet) per month. To detect a slow leak, put food coloring in the toilet tank and wait 15 minutes without flushing. If the water in the bowl turns color, your toilet tank is leaking. Replace the parts inside your toilet tank. Repair kits are inexpensive and are available at most home improvement stores. The Service Authority recommends you perform this test at least twice a year. Catching a toilet leak at its earliest stage can save a lot of water and keeping from pouring your money down the drain. For additional information on toilet maintenance and repair, we suggest a visit to http://www.toiletology.com/index.shtmlCheck for leaky faucets, showers and hoses.
Worn plumbing fixtures waste a great deal of water and can be costly to the consumer. Follow these tips to save water and money:
Repair leaky faucets, showers and hoses. A leaky faucet wastes between 750 gallons (a steady drip) and 12,000 gallons (a steady stream) per month.
Replace parts inside your toilet tank before leaks start. A leaky toilet tank wastes between 300 gallons (slow leak) and 60,000 gallons (running toilet) per month. To detect a slow leak, put food coloring in the toilet tank and wait up to 12 hours without flushing. If the water in the bowl turns color, your toilet tank is leaking.
Protect plumbing from freezing in cold weather. Protect pipes from freezing by insulating pipes in unheated areas. Whenever possible, drain outside faucets before freezing weather sets in.
Locate your main water valve. If a serious water leak occurs, knowing where the main water valve is will save hundreds of gallons of water and reduce the risk of property damage.
There are several measures that can be taken to prevent winter water disasters:
Locate and mark the main water cutoff valve for your home. This valve is usually found near where the water line comes into your house. Damage from running water can be minimized if you can turn off this valve quickly.
Make sure all water lines to outside faucets are turned off and drained.
Eliminate drafts. Check around the home for areas where water supply lines are located in unheated areas and take measures to prevent the flow of cold air in these areas. Look in the basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets for these supply lines
Consider wrapping or insulating your water lines, especially those lines near outside walls, under the house, or in the attic. Insulation supplies are available at your local home improvement/hardware store. Be sure to insulate hot and cold water lines in these areas, as either line could freeze in cold weather.
If your water lines do freeze, never try to thaw a line with an open flame or torch. You can use a hair dryer or portable heater, but always be careful of the potential for electric shock in and around standing water.
If you plan to be away from your home, keep the thermostat at a reasonable temperature to ensure all areas with water lines stay above freezing.
Winterize your sprinkler system, contact your irrigation system installer or a certified plumber for detailed instructions.
If you lose or are planning to interrupt or permanently stop the heat source in your home:
Locate and turn off the main water cutoff valve. After the valve is turned off, open a faucet on each level of your home to allow for expansion should the water that has not yet drained freeze. (Remember to close all opened faucets before opening your main water cutoff)
If you are staying in your home, or will be monitoring your home frequently, allow a faucet to drip cold water slowly. At a minimum, the faucet you select should be the greatest distance from your main water cutoff valve. Also, consider allowing a slow drip in areas that are least protected from the cold, such as basements, crawl spaces, attics, the garage. (A stream of water pencil lead size will cost about 21 cents per hour for water and sewer charges)
If you think you have frozen water lines:
Identify whether the problem exists throughout the whole house or in one area.
Open the cabinets beneath any place with a water supply, such as the kitchen and bathroom sinks. This will allow warm air to circulate. (Remove any toxic substances first if there are small children in the home)
Open the cold water faucet nearest the frozen pipe to relieve the pressure of expanding ice, which may lead to a burst pipe.
If you still have no water after completing these steps, you may have a frozen water meter
If you think you may have a frozen water meter, please contact the Service Authority’s Customer Service Department at (703) 335-7950. For after-hours emergencies, please call our 24-hour Dispatch line at (703) 335-7982.
Please try to be at home so that a Service Authority representative can determine if your meter is frozen and thaw or replace it.
In some instances, the line to your house could be frozen and may result in the need to contact a plumbing professional to address this problem.
What you pour down the drain may harm your household plumbing, the wastewater collection and treatment system, and the environment.
The following substances SHOULD NOT be disposed into drains that lead to the sanitary sewer:
Furniture and metal polishes
Paint, varnish and paint thinner
Deck cleaners and rust remover
Garden chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides/weed killers
Motor oil, antifreeze and most all vehicle-related fluids
A more comprehensive list is available from the Water Environment Federation by clicking HERE.
Expired and/or unused medications also SHOULD NOT be discarded into toilet bowls or household drains.
What are considered to be “medications”?
Prescription drugs such as hormones (birth control pills, estrogen replacement therapy, etc.); antidepressants; antibiotics; and any veterinary/pet medicines
Over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers (aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.) and prescription narcotic painkillers; cold and flu remedies; and antiseptics (germ-killing liquids)
What is the safest method of disposal for expired or unused medications?
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration offers detailed guidance online about the proper disposal of medications HERE.
